Volunteer Elves Needed
SANTA CRUZ, CA – Toys For Tots – Santa Cruz County’s holiday season got an early start this year when 
Jax & Mia Dellenbach, twins from La Selva Beach, turned a year old in April. This pair hosted a Superhero first birthday party and collected over 50 toys for children their own age.
“It’s been a year of pleasant surprises and there’s even more to come!” reflected TOYS FOR TOTS coordinator Delilah Valadez. “The medley of events this season is certain to appeal to a broad base of local residents, but will also require more volunteer support than ever before.”
While volunteer elves will be navigating their routes next week delivering collection materials to dozens of collection sites, others will be working behind the scenes on the mountain of administrative tasks required for this 26th annual undertaking.
“First year events are often challenging in that the learning curve is steep,” Valadez remarked, “without expertise from the public, we’re sunk.”
This year, two high profile events will anchor the event calendar, both happening in November, merely weeks away:
- Sat, Nov 15, 3pm & 7pm The UCSC Women’s Basketball team (3pm), and the Santa Cruz Warriors (7pm) will feature tributes to Veterans and host a toy collection at their home games; both games to be held at Kaiser-Permanente Arena.
- Sat, Nov 29, noon Santa Cruz Claus Slam! will feature professional stuntmen and daredevils setting world records in distance jumps and more, right on Main Beach–entirely in green eco-friendly vehicles. Thousands are expected to attend and asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
Both these occasions will rely chiefly on volunteers, both in advance and on the days of the event. “Of most help right now is someone with extensive graphic art skills to help develop themes and fliers for both events,” continued Valadez.
Volunteer elves are also needed to assist with event support in advance, staff each site, collect gifts, set- up/break-down – for more details, and additional ways to help, email [email protected] or visit santacruzcounty.toysfortots.org.